triple overtime that season. Cal was always going to have trouble defending Darnold and USCs plethora of skill players, and that task was even tougher with a short week to prepare and mounting inju

TORONTO -- Confidence was running high moments after the Toronto Maple Leafs sealed an overtime victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions.We played about as good as we could tonight, said defenseman Jake Gardiner, who scored the winner in Torontos 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. But it also shows we can play with anybody.Gardiner scored 2 minutes into overtime after being set up by Mitch Marner, whose shot just shuffled past defenseman Derrick Pouliot in front. Nikita Zaitsev also scored for Toronto.The Leafs had dropped three straight -- including the last two by shootout -- and six of the previous seven games (1-3-3) despite outshooting and often outplaying the opposition. A 41-shot barrage against Mike Smith and the Arizona Coyotes ended in a 3-2 shootout defeat on Thursday night.The young Maple Leafs outshot the defending Stanley Cup champions 49-34 and got 33 saves from Frederik Andersen.Shot counts have been through the roof, Torontos Nazem Kadri said when asked about the Leafs inability to score in recent weeks. Lots of opportunities. Sometimes you just run into some hot goaltenders and theyre hard to beat.Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins, and Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray combined to make 47 saves. Fleury was forced to leave briefly in the first period after being cut on his neck by a skate. He got five stitches around his Adams apple.The game got a frantic start when Carl Hagelin was hooked on a breakaway attempt by Connor Carrick in the opening two minutes. Hagelin was awarded a penalty shot but was stopped by Andersen.Less than a minute later, Fleury was injured on a dangerous play in front of his net.Leafs winger James van Riemsdyk was tussling with Penguins defenseman Steve Oleksy when van Riemsdyk lost his balance. His left skate kicked up and caught Fleury right under his mask, and as the action turned the other way, Fleury signaled to the bench and the play was whistled dead.The 32-year-old received treatment on the ice from a trainer before heading to the dressing room. Murray entered in his place, stopping all six shots he faced.Fleury returned just past the midway point of the first period.I got lucky you know, Fleury said. I was talking to the (doctors) and it was close to the jugular.Pittsburgh went up 1-0 just under two minutes later on Malkins 13th goal of the year. He was set up nicely by defenseman Justin Schultz, who faked a shot from atop the slot before sliding it over to Malkin. The Russian center whipped a one-time shot from one knee.Sidney Crosby added an assist on the play. The Penguins captain had a season-long nine-game point streak end Friday night in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.The Leafs evened it up 14 seconds after Malkins goal on Zaitsevs first in the NHL. The 25-year-old, a free agent signing from Russia last summer, fired a shot from the right point that was batted by Oleksy in front before caroming off Fleurys mask and in.Zaitsev said he felt like he was 17 again after finally scoring. He had family in town for the game, but they opted to watch from a bar as opposed to in person.Its the joke of the day I think, Zaitsev said.Toronto generated quality opportunities on a power play a short while later, including van Riemsdyks attempt from the door-step that was stopped by the left toe of Fleury. Nikita Soshnikov sent Marners feed from the slot wide moments later.Game notesThe Penguins were playing without two of their top defensemen, Kris Letang and Trevor Daley, because of injuries.UP NEXTPenguins: Host the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.Maple Leafs: Host Anaheim on Monday night.Wholesale Celtics Jerseys . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Stitched Celtics Jerseys . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Celtics Jerseys China . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December.LOS ANGELES -- Ronald Jones just needed an opportunity to show he was still the running back that became Southern Californias most prolific freshman rusher a season ago.With starter Justin Davis sidelined because of injury and the Pac-12s worst run defense trying to stop him, coach Clay Helton knew that the sophomore was ready to explode.Jones rushed for a career-high 223 yards, Sam Darnold threw five touchdowns passes and USC downed California 45-24 on Thursday night.Darnold threw for 231 yards, with Darreus Rogers making six catches for a career-high 97 yards, as the Trojans rolled up a season-high 629 yards of total offense. AcaCedric Ware contributed a career-high 130 yards rushing to USCs total of 398, the fourth time this season the Golden Bears have allowed more than 300 yards on the ground.We looked like a tired, beat-up football team and we were, Cal coach Sonny Dykes said.USC (5-3, 4-2 Pac-12) scored on three of its first four possessions, with Darnold finding Rogers, Jones and Deontay Burnett for touchdowns. Rogers added a second touchdown catch with 28 seconds left, but two fumbles by Darnold allowed Cal (4-4, 2-3) to maintain a modicum of hope despite allowing 451 yards on 46 plays in the first half.Defensive tackle James Looney returned a fumble to the USC 22, where Tre Watson took a screen pass into the end zone. Webb, the Texas Tech transfer, found his rhythm on Cals next drive, with throws of 23 and 32 yards to set up Matt Andersons field goal.Webb threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, throwing a ball up for grabs that was intercepted by safety Marvell Tell in the first quarter. Webb also rushed for a touchdown in the third quarter that cut USCs lead to 28-17 before Jones had a 37-yard touchdown run and Daniel Imatorbhebhe caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Darnold.Melquise Stovall, a freshman who originally committed to attend USC as a recruit, had nine receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.Cals best chance to take the lead came on its fourth play from scrimmage, but freshman Demetris Robertson dropped a potential 64-yard touchdown that hit hiim in the hands.dddddddddddd After Webb quick kicked on fourth-and-1 from the Cal 45, Jones ripped off a 61-yard run on the next play and the Cal defense was on its heels for the rest of the half.I think we were prepared when we got here, Webb said. Its on us. Thats how it should be. Its a players game.Jones had 149 yards on eight first-half carries.RECORD RETURNSUSC cornerback Adoree Jackson set a new school record for career kick return yardage, breaking the previous mark of 1,723 yards held by Curtis Conway.Jackson had 56 yards on two kick returns, giving him 1,779 yards in his three seasons at USC. The electric Jackson also had two spectacular punt returns, though one was called back because of a holding penalty.THE TAKEAWAYCal: The Bears have now lost 13 in a row to the Trojans since handing Pete Carrolls 2003 national championship team its only loss in triple overtime that season. Cal was always going to have trouble defending Darnold and USCs plethora of skill players, and that task was even tougher with a short week to prepare and mounting injuries. But with three home games left, Cal has a good chance at becoming bowl eligible if it can maintain its strong play in Strawberry Canyon.USC: The Trojans are white-hot, with Darnold leading the way. The freshman quarterback has now thrown 16 touchdown passes in leading USC to four consecutive wins, playing with a fearlessness and fire that the team was missing at the start of the season, though his ball security must improve. They need help to win the Pac-12 South, but the Trojans are more than capable of turning the conference race upside down when they travels to No. 4 Washington on Nov. 12.UP NEXTCal: The Bears host the Huskies on Nov. 5, a potential trap game for Washington while completing its only back-to-back road games this season.USC: The Trojans host faltering Oregon on Nov. 5, seeking their first five-game winning streak since interim coach Ed Orgeron won five straight in 2013. ' ' '